CSOs Petition Police, Judicial Commission, Others Over Alleged Exhibit Tampering

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Kogi State have petitioned major law enforcement and judicial institutions, demanding a thorough and transparent investigation into alleged tampering with court exhibits in the ongoing N10 billion fraud case involving the chief of staff to the Kogi State government, Ali Bello, and others.

The petition, submitted in Abuja by the Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy (CODWA) in collaboration with other groups, was addressed to the inspector-general of police (IGP), the Department of State Services (DSS), the commissioner of police, FCT Command, the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The action followed a directive issued on 5th February, 2026, by Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, ordering the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the DSS to investigate allegations that critical court exhibits marked N and O were manipulated.

The judge reportedly disclosed that the court registrar, Nasiru Onimisi Zubairu, allegedly confessed that the second defendant, Daudu Sulaiman, approached him to use a code to erase major WhatsApp messages from a telephone submitted as evidence.

Addressing journalists after submitting the petition, Comrade Kelvin Akerele, national coordinator of the Coalition of Youths Advocacy for Good Governance, said the allegations threatened public confidence in the justice system.

“Matters touching on the sanctity of court records go to the very heart of the administration of justice. Any compromise in this regard undermines public trust and the integrity of our institutions,” Akerele stated.

He urged the IGP and other agencies to ensure the matter was handled with seriousness.

“We sincerely urge that this investigation is pursued to its logical conclusion and not allowed to be swept under the carpet,” he added.

Also, the national president of the Arewa Grassroot Leaders Assembly, Hon. Onogu Collins, condemned attempts to give Kogi State a negative image and insisted that anyone found culpable must be punished.

“People who bring a bad image to Kogi State must be used as scapegoats so that others can learn. Nigeria is an institution where such acts must not go unpunished,” Collins said.

He explained that the decision to petition multiple agencies was to ensure accountability.

“We are submitting this petition to the IGP, DSS, EFCC, the NJC and the commissioner of police, FCT Command because matters affecting court exhibits strike at the core of justice and the rule of law,” he stressed.

The groups reminded the Nigeria Police of its constitutional responsibility to enforce court directives and safeguard judicial processes.

“The Nigerian Police is statutorily saddled with the responsibility to enforce court orders to promote justice and the rule of law. We believe the police are equal to this task,” the petition read.

The organisations expressed confidence that a transparent investigation would restore public faith in the judiciary and deter future interference with court exhibits.